Buckle threading apparatus



5.0. SONNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Oct. 11', 1960 Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 2

Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SONNTAG ET AL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIGJBan w 664 Oct. 11, 1960 SONNTAG ETAL BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS FiledDec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 2O

INVENTORS Edmund & 62/7/71 2 Oct. 11, 1960 E. ca. SQNNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 94 M EK4! INVENTORS Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SQNNTAG ET AL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 10INVENTORS ATTOR/VIXS Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SONNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 FIG.24

2 w W 8 Q 4&4 M. wnmw m l 4 l I v #2 w l l. iLirul 44 U 5 IO 7 IHI 2 a m[1. F W

Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SONNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 13FIG.3O

Edmund BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Edmund G. Sonntag and Benjamin Fenn,Waterbury, and

Karl F. Sonntag, Watertown, Conn., assignors to Seovill ManufacturingCompany, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 17,1958, Ser. No. 781,069

28 Claims. (Cl. 223-49) The present invention relates to apparatus forautomatically inserting or threading straps or tapes through theapertures in buckles or similar articles.

The buckle threading apparatus of the present application is related toand is an improvement of the buckle threading apparatus described inPatent No. 2,848,147, assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication. In said patent, there is described and claimed an apparatusfor the automatic assembly of straps and buckles, wherein the bucklesare automatically supplied from a feeding station and transferred to athreading station at which they are retained while the tape or strap isthreaded therethrough, the threaded buckles being ejected from thethreading station as the succeeding buckles arrive thereat from thefeeding station.

An object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threadingapparatus of a generally improved type providing greater compactness andefficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide abuckle threadingapparatus having an improved buckle discharge mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having improved means for supporting a buckle duringthe threading thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having gripping jaw members which withdraw tape froma supply thereof and which provide means for clamping the tape duringthe threading of said tape through the buckles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus with gripping jaws having improved operatingmechanisms therefor and including means for adjusting the movement andposition of the gripper jaws to vary the length of tape withdrawn from asupply thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having improved means for opening and closing thegripper jaw members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threadingapparatus having improved means for transferring the buckles from a feedstation to a threading station and for adjusting the position of thebuckle at the threading station.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having a looper mechanism for withdrawing apredetermined length of tape from a supply thereof and the provision ofmeans for varying the length of said withdrawn tape.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having improved means for releasably securing, forready removal, a threader member from a support for said member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having an improved guide mechanism for a tape feeddevice.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bucklethreading apparatus having one main drive shaft on which all theactuating cams for the areas Patented Oct. 11,1960

ice

ently contemplated of carrying out the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a buckle threading apparatuspursuant to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the buckle threading appar-atus illustratedin Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 44 ofFig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6A is a fragmentary vertical view, of a portion of Fig. 6, showingthe position of a buckle as it is transferred from the feed station tothe threading station;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Fig.6A;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 9-9 of Fig. 8;-

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, on an'enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 10-10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fregrnentary detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale,taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 13-13 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view on scale, taken along the line14-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view, with parts broken away, on anenlarged scale, taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a plan view, partly in section with portions cut away, on anenlarged scale, taken along the line 1616 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 1717 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongline 18-18 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a partial vertical sectional view, taken along the line 19-19of Fig. 16;

' Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and illustrates a subsequentposition of the parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and shows the position of the partsof the mechanism during the second threading operation;

Fig. 22 is a partial sectional view, with parts broken away, on anenlarged scale, taken along the line 22-22 of Fig. 2;

an enlarged Fig. 23 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale,taken along the line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a view, similar to Fig. 22, showing the third threader in asubsequent position of operation, and showing the discharge bin for thethreaded buckles;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24, showing the parts of the mechanismin a subsequent position and the buckle being discharged from theapparatus;

Fig. 26 is a partial vertical sectional view, with parts cut away, takenalong the line 2626 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 27 is a partial vertical view, partly in section, on an enlargedscale, taken along the line 27-27 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 28-34, inclusive, are partial views, similar to Fig. 27 and partlyin section, illustrating various steps in the buckle threadingoperation;

Fig. 35 is a plan view, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, takenalong the line 3535 of Fig. 33, showing a subsequent position in thethreading operation;

Fig. 36 is a view similar to Fig. 35 and illustrates the apparatus in asubsequent position wherein the threaded buckle is being discharged;

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of a buckle utilized in the presentapparatus; and

Fig. 38 is a perspective view of a threaded buckle assembly delivered bythe apparatus of the present invention.

Briefly described, the strap and buckle assembly apparatus of thepresent invention automatically provides a threaded buckle assembly 12of the type illustrated in Fig. 38, which utilizes buckles 14 of thetype illustrated in Fig. 37. The leading end 16 of a flexible tape orstrap T (Fig. 1), preferably formed of a suitable fabric, is initiallyinserted into the apparatus 10, and during the course of the operationof said apparatus, a predetermined length of said tape is periodicallywithdrawn from the supply thereof, which is not shown. The tape supplymay be any convenient source such as a roller. The withdrawn tape lengthis threaded through the buckle to provide a first loop L1 or tab portion(Fig. 38) and an adjustable loop L2 which forms the body portion of thetape. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the loop or tabportion L1 of the tape may be secured to a ladys undergarment, or thelike, and one end of the loop L2 or body portion of the tape may also besecured to the garment, the other end thereof being free to permit theadjustment of the loop L2 for varying the strap length.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 in detail, the strap and buckle assemblyapparatus 10 is supported on a bed plate 18 which may be provided withsuitable supporting legs 20. Mounted to bed plate 18, along one sideedge thereof, by securing elements 22 is a bracket 24 which supports amotor 26 and a reduction gear assembly 28 which comprises the drivemechanism for the apparatus, the drive mechanism being mounted to thebracket 24 by securing elements 30. Extending from reduction gearassembly 28 is an output drive shaft 32 to which is suitably mounted asprocket drive wheel 34 which drives a sprocket wheel 36 through asprocket chain 38. Sprocket wheel 36 is suitably fastened to a shaft 40which extends across the length of bed plate 18 and constitutes the maindrive shaft for the apparatus. Shaft 40 is journalled for support infour hearing brackets, 42, 44, 46, and 48, respectively, which aredisposed at various positions along the length of the main drive shaft,as shown, each of the brackets being secured to bed plate 18 by securingelements 50, as best shown in Fig. 8. Suitably mounted on shaft 40,adjacent sprocket wheel 36, is a standard single revolution clutch 52which permits the main drive shaft to "be disengaged from motor 26 andgear assembly 28 when it is desired to operate the apparatus by hand,hand wheel 54 being provided for this purpose, said hand wheel beingmounted at one end of shaft 40. Also mounted on shaft 40 are a pluralityof cams, generally designated by the numeral 56, of the internal orgrooved type, which operate the various mechanisms of the apparatus tobe described hereinafter.

A buckle transfer mechanism, generally indicated by the referencenumeral 58 (Fig. 2), operates to automatically transfer buckles in timedrelation from a supply stack thereof to a threading station 60 and todischarge threaded buckles therefrom. Referring to Fig. 37 is will benoted that the previously mentioned buckles 14- are of the type havingenclosed outer and inner eyelets, 62 and 64, respectively, and a thirdeyelet 66 which is open between the confronting ribs 68 and 70 thereof.The outer and inner eyelets are enclosed by side rib members 72 and 74,respectively, outer rib member 76, and inner rib members 78 and 80,respectively. The buckles 14 are supported and guided on a T-shaped bar82 which is secured to an L -shaped holder 84. Holder 84 is providedwith a vertically extending slot 86, at the lower portion thereof, whichreceives one leg 88 of bar 82 therein, said bar being secured to theholder by bolts 90. Securing elements 92 fasten holder 84 to a bracket94 which is secured to bed plate 18 by securing elements 96, as bestseen in Figs. 3, 4 and 7.

Referring now to Figs. 3 through 7, the upper surface of bracket member94 is provided with a transversely extending guideway 98 in which aslide holder 100 reciprocates. Fastened to the upper surface of theslide holder is a slide member or pusher 102, said pusher being held inadjustable abutting relation against slide holder 100 by adjustingmember 104, and securing elements 106, said pusher being provided withan adjusting slot 108 therein and said adjusting member being providedwith slots 110 through which said securing elements pass. From theforegoing it will be seen that the position of pusher 102 may thus beadjusted on slide holder 100 for varying the position of the buckles atthe threading station 60 and for accommodating various sizes of buckles.

Disposed on either side of the guideway 98 are side guide members 112and 114, respectively, said guide members being secured to the topsurface of bracket 94 by securing elements 116. As best seen in Fig. 7the lower inner corners of said guide members 112 and 114 are cut awayto provide cutouts 1-18 to form a slideway for the passage of thebuckles from the feed station 122 at T-shaped bar 82 to the previouslymentioned threading station 60. Each of the guide members are providedwith cutaway portions 124 in the area of the feed station to permit thebuckles to fall into the slideway 120 from the T-shaped feed bar 82. Itwill be noted that the thickness of the pusher 102 is slightly less thanthe thickness of a buckle and that the depth of the cutouts 118 is onlyslightly greater than the thickness of a buckle so that as the pusher102 is reci rocated back and forth only one buckle will be removed fromthe stack or buckles. It will also be noted, as best seen in Fig. 7,that the bottom edge 126 of leg 128 of bar 82 is slightly above the topsurface of the bottom buckle in the stack thereby permitting the bottombuckle to be removed from the stack by pusher 102 while retaining theremaining buckles in the stack in position.

As best shown in Fig. 4, mounted at one end of guide member 112 is anextension member 130 which is secured in a recess in bracket 94 bysecuring elements 132, said member being provided with a slot 134coextensive with slideway 120 for supporting the buckle at the outer rimmember 76 when said buckle is at the threading station 60, as shown. Asbest seen in Figs. 6 and 36, a buckle support member 136 is secured tothe undersurface of bracket 94 by securing elements 138. Support member136 is provided with extending support elements 140 and 142, whichsupport the buckle at rib member 80 and confronting rib 70,respectively. In addition, a support 144 is provided for confronting rib68, supporting said rib at the undersurface thereof by part 147, saidsupport being an elongated rod-like member, as best seen in Fig. 22,said member being mounted on threader bracket 146 by securing elements148. Bracket 146 is fastened to bed plate 18 by securing element's 145.A spring member 150 is secured to guide members 112 and 114 by securingelements 152, said spring member engaging side rib member 74 of thebuckle, thereby resiliently retaining said buckle at the threadingstation 60, as best seen in Fig. 4. Mounted on guide member 114 is anL-shaped tape guide 154 which is secured to guide member 114 by securingelement 152. The tape guide has an upstanding leg 156 which helps keepthe tape T in vertical elignment during the threading operation, as bestseen in Fig. 32, and as will be more fully understood hereinafter.

Bracket 94 is provided, at the upper end thereof, with a guideway 158 inwhich is mounted a rod 160 having a nylon roller or tape guide member162 suitably mounted at one end thereof. The tape guide member isadapted to be withdrawn into or out of guideway 158 as will be explainedmore clearly hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the actuating mechanism for thebuckle transfer mechanism 58 comprises a buckle pusher cam 164, of theinternal or grooved type, which is keyed to shaft 40 and drives a forkedpermitting ready removal of the forked levers from the follower leverarm 166, via roller 168, which is pivotally mounted on lever 166 andengages the cam groove 170 in cam 164. Pivotally mounted on shaft 40 is.a bronze shoe 172 on which the forked lever is adapted to slide inchannel opening 174- in the forked lever, said channel opening beingclosed at one end of the forked lever by cap member 176 which is securedto the fork lever by bolts 178. The foregoing described forked lever armand bronze shoe permits the use-of smaller linkage arms therebyresulting in a more compact driving mechanism. In addition, the slidingmovement of the follower arm on the bronze shoe causes the followerroller to remain in proper alignment in the cam groove therebypreventing undue wear of the moving parts.

The other end of forked lever 166 is pivotally mounted,

at 180, to a lever 182, one end of which is journalled on a shaft 184 bybearing 186, set screw 188 being provided for fastening said bearing tothe lever, as best seen in Fig. 5. The other end of lever 182 ispivotally mounted at 190 to link member 192 which is pivotally mountedto the previously mentioned slide holder 100 at 194. Shaft 184 issupported in journal bearings 196,

apparatus without the removal of any of the cams there from, as will bemore fully understood hereinafter.

Provision is made for a tape gripping device generally designated byreference numeral 224, which withdraws tape from a tape feed device,generally designated by the reference numeral 226. Referring now toFigs. 1, 8 and 12, a gripper slide bracket 228 is mounted, by securingelements 230, on bed plate 18. Secured to bracket 228, by securingelements 232, are upper and lower gripper slide members 234 and 236,respectively, which form a gripper slideway 238. Mounted for slidingmovement within said slideway is a T-shaped gripper slide 240 which isprovided, at one end thereof, with a recessed portion 242 in which ismounted, by securing elements 244, a lower gripping jaw member 246.Lower jaw member 246 is provided with an extending portion 248 in whichis mounted a compression spring 250 for biasing upper jaw member 252into a closed position, as best seen in Fig. 27. Upper jaw member 252 isprovided with an extending portion 254 which fits into a slot 256 in thelower jaw member, the upper and lower jaw members being pivotallymounted to each other at thisposition by pivot pin 258.

Gripper slide 240 is actuated by a mechanism comprising a gripper slidecam 260 which drives a forked follower lever arm 262 which is providedwith a forked end 264- which is pivotally mounted to yoke member 266 bypivot pin 268. Yoke member 266 is pivotally mounted to a bell crank 270at connection 272, said connection comprising a pivot pin assembly 274which passes through a slot 276 in one arm 278 of bell crank 270. Bellcrank 270 is pivotally mounted at 280 on a bracket 282. Referring now toFig. 9, it will be noted that the position of yoke member 266 at pivotpin assembly 274 may be adjusted toward or away from pivot 280. Pivotpin assembly 274 comprises a stud 284 having a bushing 286 mounted atone end thereof, said stud being mounted for pivotal movement onbearings 288 which are press fitted into the arms 290 of yoke member266. Stud 284 is provided with flat portions, on

. the body thereof, in order to prevent the stud from roatv each endthereof, said bearings being mounted in a tating within slot 276. A nut292 is provided on the threaded end of stud 284 to retain the assemblyin the slot. .An adjusting screw 294 is provided, which screws intothebody portion of stud 284, said adjusting screw being retained inposition by pin 296. Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that uponrotation of .adjusting screw 294, yoke member 266 may be moved toward orsimilar to forked lever 166, said lever being pivotally mounted, at 210,to lever 212 which is keyed, at 214, V

to shaft 184. Also keyed to shaft 184, at 216, is a link 218 which ispivotally connected, at 220, to a link 219 which is pivotally connected,at 221, to the tape guide roller rod 160, said rod being provided with acut out portion 222 for this connection, as best seen in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as buckle pusher cam 164is caused to rotate by the rotation of shaft 40, pusher 102 willreciprocate in slideway 120 causing buckles to be removed from the feedstation 122 lar to lever 166' and shoe 172, said lever and bronze shoearrangement permitting the use of shorter levers, reducing maintenancecosts, as indicated above, and

away from pivot 280 of bell crank 2'70. Movement of yoke member 266 awayfrom pivot 280 results in a shorter stroke for gripper slide 240 whereasmoving yoke member 266 toward pivot 280 results in a longer stroke forgripper slide 240.

Bell crank 270 is supported at pivot 280 on the previously mentionedbracket 282, said bracket being secured to bed plate 18 by securingelements 298, asbest seen in Figs. 2 and 8. As shown in Fig. 9 pivot 280comprises a pivot pin 300 which is screwed into bracket 282 and isprovided with a washer 302 and a bearing 304.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the other arm 306 of bell crank 270 ispivotally mounted, at 308, to a clevis 310 which is mounted to anadjusting screw 312 which is provided with a left hand thread portion314 and a right hand thread portion 316 and is also provided with aWrench gripping portion 318 for facilitating turning said adjustingscrew. Adjusting screw 312 is also connected to another clevis 320 whichis pivotally mounted to gripper slide 240, at 322. Actuation ofadjusting screw 312 varies the position of the gripper slide 240 and thegripper jaw members 246 and 252 with respect to the end 16 of the tapeT. Thus, from the foregoing it will be seen that as gripper slide cam260 rotates the gripper jaw members will be caused to reciprocate alongslideway 238 for positioning the jaw members for gripping the 7 end 16of the tape and withdrawing said tape from the tape feed device 226.

.a-Referring now to Figs.,10 and .11, it will be noted that reach ofcams 56 is provided-with a cutout'portion 326 into which a plug 328 issecured by screws 330. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the apparatusis very compact with very little space provided between the followerarms and the cams mounted on shaft 40. To remove the follower arms fromengagement with their, corresponding cams it is not necessary to moveany of thecams on shaft 40. To remove the follower arm, plug 328 isremoved from the cam and cap member 176 is removed from itscorresponding follower arm when a forked follower arm is employed. Shaft40 is then turned by hand ;until the roller attached to the followerarm, such as roller 332 in r Fig. 10, is aligned with cutout portion326, which forms a passageway therefor leading from the cam groove 327,wherein in said position the follower arm may be easily disengaged fromits corresponding cam.

Provision is made for opening and closing the gripper jaw memberscomprising a gripper jaw actuating cam 334 which is keyed to shaft 40and drives a bell crank follower lever 336 which is pivotally supported,at 338, on the vertically extending portion 340 of bracket 282. Bellcrank 336 is provided, at one end thereof, with a forked portion 342, asbest seen in Fig. 8, which engages and supports a gripper jaw actuatingmember 344, said member being provided with upstanding ear portions 346,with a support pin 348 disposed therebetween, as best seen in Fig. 12.The actuating member 344 is pivotally supported by gripper slide bracket228, at 345, as seen in Fig. 8. The gripper jaw actuating member 344 isprovided with a depending portion 350 along its entire length which isadapted to engage a roller 352 which is mounted in one end of uppergripper jaw member 252 by pin 354. From the foregoing it will be seenthat as gripper jaw actuating cam 334 is caused to rotate, member 344will be actuated to engage roller 352 of upper jaw member 252 causingsaid member to pivot about pin 258 against the bias of compressionspring 250 causing said jaw members to open, as best seen in Fig. 1, thenormal position of the jaw members being closed.

Provision is made for a threading and tape looping mechanism, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 360, in Fig. 1. The mechanismcomprises the previously mentioned threader bracket 146 to which isfastened, by securing elements 362, two threader guide members 364, asbest seen in Fig. 14, which form a guideway 366 in which a threaderslide 368 is mounted for Vertical reciprocating movement. Fastened tothe threader slide, by securing elements 378, is a holder 372 which hasan adjustable member 374 which is provided with an extending guideportion 376 that fits into a slot 378 in holder 372, for verticaladjustment of member 374 on holder 372, said member being provided with.slots 379 through which securing elements 382 pass, thereby permittingsaid vertical adjustment. Mounted to member 374 by securing elements 384is a first threader 386.

The first threader is actuated, in vertical reciprocating movement, by amechanism comprising, as best seen in Figs. 2, 13 and 14, a firstthreader cam 388 which drives a forked follower arm 398 which ispivotally mounted at 392 to a bell crank 394, said bell crank beingjournalled, at 396, between the upstanding parts 398 of a threadersupport bracket 480, as best seen in Fig. 13, said bracket being securedto bed plate 18 by securing elements 401. Bell crank 394 is alsopivotally mounted, at 402, to a short link 404 which is pivotallymounted to the threader slide 368, at 406. From the foregoing it will beseen that as first threader cam 388 is caused to rotate the firstthreader 386 will be caused to reciprocate in a vertical direction.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 17 there is secured to the bottom ofthreaderbracket 146, by securing elements 408, an L -shap,ed.bracket410. which .is provided with'a slot 412 therein, which forms a slidewayfor a T-shaped slide 414 to which is fastened, by securing elements 416,a threader-support member 418. Said'support member is provided with aslot 420 in which the end of a second threader 422 is Secured bysecuring elements 424.

Referring to Figs. 2, 13, 15 and 22, the mechanism for actuating thesecond threader 422 comprises a second threader cam 426 which drives aforked follower arm 427 which is pivotally mounted, at 428, to a link430 which is keyed, at 432, to a shaft 434 which is journalled inbearings 436 mounted in a support bracket 438, said bracket beingfastened to bed plate 18 by securing elements 440. Shaft 434 extends outfrom bracket 438 and has keyed thereto, at said extending portion, alink 442 which is pivotally connected, at 444, to a link 446 which ispivotally connected, at 448, to the previously mentioned threadersupport member 418. It will be understood from the foregoingthat assecond threader cam 426 is caused to rotate the second threader 422 willbe caused to reciprocate in a vertical direction as slide 414 moves inslot 412. With reference to Fig. 17 it will be noted that when thesecond threader is in its lowermost position the support member 418 willbe below the top surface 450 of bed plate 18, said bed plate being cutaway at 452.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 15 and 22, provision is made for a thirdthreader 454 which is removably secured to the lower end of a circularrod 456 which is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in theslideway 458 provided in the previously mentioned threader bracket 146.Referring now to Figs. 22 and 23 it will be noted that the lower end ofrod 456 is provided with two slots 460, at right angles to each other,the threader 454 being inserted in one of said slots. The upper end ofthe threader is slotted at 462 for receiving a pin 464 which resists anytwisting forces being applied to the threader 454 during the threadingoperation. The outer surface of rod 456 is threaded to receive a nut466. Upon tightening nut 466 on rod 456, slots 46% will be compressedfor tightly securing the threader to the rod. Upon loosening of nut 466the threader may be easily removed from the rod.

The mechanism for operating the third threader 454 comprises a thirdthreader cam 468 which drives a forked follower arm 470 which ispivotally connected, at one end 472 thereof, to a bell crank 474 whichis pivotally supported, at 476, on an upstanding portion 478 of thepreviously mentioned bearing bracket 46. The other end of hell crank 474is pivotally connected, at 480, to a link 482 which is pivotallyconnected, at 484, to a clamp 486 which is provided with a hole 488 toreceive the upper end of rod 456, as best seen in Fig. 2. Clamp 486 isprovided with a tightening screw 49) for adjustably securing rod 456 tothe clamp 486. From the foregoing it will be seen that as third threadercam 468 is caused to rotate the third threader 454 will be caused toreciprocate in a vertical direction as rod 456 reciprocates in slideway458.

For withdrawing and varying the length of the loop L2 or body portion ofthe tape a looper mechanism, generally designated by the referencenumeral 492, is provided. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 15, the previouslymentioned threader bracket 146 is provided with a slot 494 which isenclosed by a cover plate 496, said cover plate being fastened tobracket 146 by securing elements 498, to form a slideway 500 in which aforked looper rod 502 is adapted to slide. Between the forked portionsof rod 502 there is provided a roller 504 supported on a pin 506, saidroller being adapted to engage the upper surface of the tape T, as bestseen in Fig. 29.

The actuating mechanism for looper 492 comprises a looper cam 508 whichdrives a forked follower arm 510 which is pivotally mounted, at 512, ina slot 514 formed in one end of a bell crank 516, said bell crank beingpivotally supported, at 518, in bracket 46. The position of pivot 5.12in-,slot. 514 may be adjusted by actuating screw 520 in the same manneras the previously discussed connection shown in Fig. 9. This adjustmentpermits the length of the stroke of the looper to be adjusted as desiredto vary the length of tape withdrawn by the looper. Bell crank 516 ispivotally connected, at 522, to a link 524 which is pivotally connectedto a pivot pin 526 which is mounted on an adjusting block 530 whichholds the upper end of looper rod 502, as .best seen in Fig. 2.Adjusting block 530 comprises a U-shaped member having a slot 532therein which is covered by a plate 534 which, is secured to block 530by securing elements 536, the upper end of rod 502 being secured insaidslot by plate 534. Upon loosening securing elements 536 the positionof rod 502 may be adjusted in slot 532, whereby the position of looper492 in slideway 500 may be varied. From the foregoing it will be seenthat as looper cam 508 rotates looper 492 will be reciprocated in avertical direction for withdrawing varying lengths of tape for loop L2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 13, 14, 16, 19 and 29, there is provided aninside cutter and slide mechanism, generally designated by referencenumeral 538,.which provides means for separating the loops L1 and L2 ofthe tape from each other. The mechanism comprises a knife slide bracket540 which is provided with flange members 542 through which passsecuring elements 544 for mounting the knife slide bracket 54010threader bracket 146. Knife slide bracket 540 is provided with aslideway 546 in which the knife slide 548 is mounted, said knife slidehaving a T-shaped member 550 secured to it by securing elements 552,said T-shaped member 550 being mounted in said slideway. Suitablyfastened along the upper edge of knife slide 548 is a carbide insert 554which provides self-sharpening means for the knife. Also secured at theupper edge of knife slide 548, by securing elements 556, is a pilotholder 558 which is provided with a slot 560 therein which mounts apilot or pointed spreader 562, the point of said pilot being positionedahead of the tip of the inside knife 564. A cutout 563 is provided inbracket 94 to provide clearance for the pilot and the knife. The knifeis pivotally mounted on the slide at 566. The knife slide 548 isprovided with a shearing edge 565 which cooperates with the knife duringthe tape cutting operation.

The actuating mechanism for the knife slide 548 comprises a knife slidecam 568 which drives a forked follower arm 570 which is pivotallyconnected, at 572,

to a knife bell crank lever 574, at one arm 575 thereof,

said lever being supported in the journal bearings 576 which are mountedon shaft 578, said shaft being supported in journal bearings 580 in thepreviously mentioned threader support bracket 400. Pivotally mounted tolever 574, at the other arm 581, at 582, is a link 584 which ispivotally connected to knife slide 548, at 586. The actuating mechanismfor inside knife 564 comprises an inside knife cam 588 which drives aforked follower arm 590 which is pivotally connected, at 592, to a link594 which is keyed, at 596, to shaft 578. Also keyed to shaft 578, at598, is a link 600 which is pivotally mounted, at 602, in a slot 604formed in one end of a link 606 which is pivotally connected to theinside knife 564, at 608. Slot 604 provides lost motion means permittingthe slide 548 to move forward carrying knife 564 without causing saidknife to be actuated as best shown in Figs. 19 and 20. From theforegoing it will be clear that as knife slide cam 568 is actuated knifeslide 548 will be moved forward into position for the cutting operationcarrying inside knife 564 forward into position and then upon actuationof inside knife 564 by cam 588 and the operating linkage therefordescribed above, the tape will be cut, as best shown in Fig. 20. Inorder to prevent interference between link 606 and knife 564 withthreader bracket 410, in the position shown in Fig. 20, a cutout portion609 is provided therein, as shown.

of the gripper jaws.

an outside knife mechanism comprising a stationary outside knife member610 which is secured, by securing elements 612, in a slot 614 formed inbracket 94. Suitably secured along the upper edge of knife member 610 isa carbide insert 616 which provides self-sharpening means for theoutside knife 618. Said knife is pivotally mounted on knife member 610,at 620, and a shearing edge 621 is provided on said knife member that00- operates with the outside knife during the tape shearing operation.

The actuating mechanism for outside knife 618 comprises an outside knifecam 622 which drives a forked follower arm 624 which is pivotallyconnected, at 626, to an arm 627 of a bell crank 628 which is journalledon bearing 630 which is mounted on shaft 434. Bell 'crank628 is alsopivotally connected, at its other am 629, to a link 632, at 634, saidlink being pivotally connected to the outside knife, at 636. From theforegoing it will be seen that as outside knife cam 622 is actuated,outside knife 618 will be caused to pivot about its pivot support 620 tocut the tape and separate said tape from the supply thereof. It willalso be noted that as the knife is actuated the carbide insert 616 willrub against a side of the knife thereby automatically sharpening saidknife during the operation thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1, l6, l8 and 27, the previously mentioned tape feeddevice 226 comprises a tape feed plate 638 which is pivotally mounted at640 on the upper part of a rib portion 642 formed on bracket 94. Tapefeed plate 638 has a cutout portion 644 which provides clearance for theserrated ends, 646 and 648, of the upper and lower jaw members, 252 and246, respectively. Pivotally mounted at 650, on an upstanding portion652 of slide bracket 94, is an upper tape guide member 654 which is alsoprovided, at the forward end thereof, with a cutout portion 656 whichprovides a clearance space for the ends Disposed between tape feed plate638 and upper guide member 654, to form a tape guideway 658, are guidemembers 660 and 662, said guide members being provided with slots, 66 4and 666, respectively, through which pass securing elements 668, foradjustably securing the guide members to the tape feed plate 638 wherebythe width of tape gaiideway 658 may be varied to accommodate varyingwidths of tape. Secured to the undersurface of upper guide member 654 isa bowed spring member 670 which is provided with a serrated end 672 forresiliently holding the tape against the upper surface of the tape feedplate 638. A spring member 674 is secured to guide member 662 bysecuring element 668 and is in engagement with the top surface of upperguide member 654 to provide means for biasing spring member 670 againstthe tape. The tape feed device 226 is resiliently supported on a pin676, which engages the undersurface of tape feed plate 638, said pinbeing actuated by a compression spring 678 mounted on the top surface ofpart 680 of bracket 94, pin 676 being slidably mounted in a hole 682formed in bracket 94. From the foregoing it will be seen that as thetape is gripped by the gripping jaws and withdrawn from the tape feeddevice 226, the biasing force of pin 676 against the tape feed devicewill tension the tape.

For guiding the tape to the tape feed device 226 there is provided abracket 684 which is suitably fastened to ally mounted on thefront upperportion of slide bracket 94.

- 1 Referring to Figs; 1, 24 and 36, there is provided a discharge slidewire 696 which is secured at one end thereof to buckle support element140, as best seen in Fig. 36, I said slide wire being curved to guidethe completed buckle buckles, the extendingtape portions of the bucklesand the position of the buckle on the wire 696 create a balancedcondition for said buckles during the discharge thereof.

In operating the apparatus of the present invention to thread the tapethrough the buckles so as to provide the finished assemblies illustratedin Fig. 38, the buckles are mounted on the T-shaped bar 82 with thebuckle pusher 102 in its retracted position. It will be apparent thatthe lowermost buckle in the stack of the T-bar 8 2, will move off theT-bar directly into the slideway 120, immediately in front of and inregistry with the pusher 102. As said pusher is caused to move forwardby the operation of buckle pusher cam 164 and the linkage mechanismtherefor, previously described, the buckle will be transferred from thefeed station 122 to the threading station 60. As seen in Fig. 6A, abuckle 14 is shownin an intermediate position between the feed stationand the threading station.

The tape T is furnished from a suitable supply roller (not illustrated)and the leading end 16 of said tape is inserted between the guidemembers 688 and 690 into the tape feed device 226, said tape beingdisposed in guideway 658 of said device, as shown in Fig. 27, the end 16of the tape extending slightly from said device. In the position shownin Fig. 27, the buckle has been moved into the threading station and thegripping jaws 252 and 246 have moved to the extreme right under theactuation of gripper slide cam 260 and its associated linkage mechainsm,previously described. The gripper jaws have moved into the positionshown simultaneously with the movement of the buckle into the threadingstation from the feed station. During this movement the gripper jaws areopen, said opening being caused by the action of gripper jaw actuatingcam 334 and its associated mechanism, previously described. As best seenin Figs. 6 and 36 the buckle at the threading station is fullysupported, the outer rib member 76 of the buckle lying within the slot134 in extension member 1130, inner rib member 80 being supported on itsundersurface by support element 140 of support member 136, confrontingrib 70 being supported on its undersurface by support element 142 ofsupport member 136, confronting rib 68 being supported on itsundersurface by support member 144, and side rib member 74 being engagedat its upper surface by the overlying spring member 150. In the positionof the gripping jaws shown in Fig. 27, it will be noted that the tapefeed device 226 has moved into its uppermost position under the biasingforce of pin 676, said tape feed device pivoting about piovts 640 and650. The serrated end 648 of lower jaw member 246 is disposed within thecutout portion 644 of tape feed plate 638.

As soon as the jaw members have reached the position shown in Fig. 27,the upper jaw member 252 will be actuated upon release of said jaw bygripper jaw actuating member 344 under the control of gripper jawactuating cam 334 and its associated mechanism, previously described,resulting in said jaw member pivoting about pivot pin 258, under thebiasing force of spring 250, causing the upper jaw member to close uponthe lower jaw member and grasp the end 16 of the tape between theserrated portions of the jaw-members. The closed jaw members now beginto retract under the control of gripper slide cam 260 and its associatedmechanism, previously described, to the position shown in Fig. 28,wherein said jaw members remain stationary while holding the withdrawnend of the tape during the entire threading operation. It will be notedthat during the retracting movement of the jaw members, tape feed device226 rotated downwardly about pivots 640 and 650 against pin 676 therebycompressing spring 678 and tensioning the tape.

Simultaneously with the retraction of the jaw members and thewithdrawing of the tape from the tape feed device, the first threader386 moves downwardly under the control of the first threader cam 388 andits associated mechanism previously described, and the looper 492 alsomoves downwardly under the control of the looper cam 508 and itsassociated mechanism, previously described. During this movement, andsimultaneously therewith, the pusher 102 retracts from its position atthe threading station 60 under the control of the buckle pusher cam 164to return to the feed station 122 in preparation for feeding asuccessive buckle into the threading station. Continuous movement of thefirst threader 382 causes the tape to be threaded through the outereyelet 62, as best seen in Fig. 29, to form the tab portion or loop L1of the buckle and tape assembly. In this regard it will be noted thatthe length of the tab portion of the tape may be adjusted by adjustingthe length of the stroke of the gripper jaws, as well as the position ofthe gripper jaws, by adjusting the gripper slide actuating mechanism andadjusting screw 312, as previously described. Simultaneously with thethreading of the tape through eyelet 62 by first threader 386, thelooper 492 will engage the upper surface of the tape and withdraw saidtape from the feed device 226 to form a loop L2 for the body portion ofthe tape and buckle assembly, said portion of the tape being supportedon the nylon roller 694 and the tape guide roller 162 which is in itsprojected position. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that in its extendedposition looper 492 is below bed plate 18 at the cut away portion 452 ofthe bed plate, said portion providing a clear area for loop L2.

After completing the first threading operation, the first threader 386begins to move into its retracted position under the control of cam 388and its associated mechanism and, simultaneously with said movement, thepilot or pointed spreader 562 enters the loop formed by the firstthreader to spread the loop for the succeeding entry therein of theinside knife 564, as best seen in Fig. 30. The movement of the pilot 562is under the control of the inside knife slide cam 568 and itsassociated mechanism, previously described, and the movement of theinside knife 564 is under the control of the inside knife cam 588 andits associated mechanism, previously described. It will be noted fromFig. 30 that the pilot and knife are within the confines of the loopformed by the first threader before the first threader has entirelyretracted from the loop.

As previously described and, as best shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the knifeslide 548 first moves forwardly into position carrying the pilot 562 andthe inside knife 564, which are mounted to the slide, into position, thepilot 562 entering the loop ahead of the knife 564. After the pilot andknife are in position the knife will cut the loop, as shown in Figs. 20and 31, the cutting action through the loop causing the severed ends 706and 708 of the tape to move apart from each other. Simultaneously withthis cutting operation the second threader 422 begins to move up underthe control of the second threader cam 426 and its associated mechanism,previously described, to engage the severed end 708 of the tape beforeit can swing all the way back to its original position. It will be seenfrom Fig. 31 that the tape end 708, when severed, swings out across thepath of upward movement of the second threader and the latter engagesthe severed tape ,on its return swing, in the broken line position ofthe. tape, as shown.

and final threading operation.

Simultaneously with continued upward movement of the second threader theknife slide 548' retracts into its initial position under the control ofcam 568, as shown in Fig. 21.

The second threader 422 continues to move upwardly, carrying the engagedend 708 of the tape up through the overlying buckle eyelet 64, as shownin Fig. 32, and into abutment with the main tape strip or body portionof the tape, as shown. It will be noted from Fig. 32 that the upstandingleg 156 of tape guide 154 engages the side edges of the tape therebypreventing said tape from moving off to the side of the buckle tomisalign said tape with the eyelets of the buckle.

As second threader 422 performs the second threading operation, looper492 begins to move upwardly under the control of cam 508, to relieve thetension in the tape, causing the tape feed device 226 to move upwardlyabout pivots 640 and 650 under thebiasing force of pin 676.Simultaneously with this movement the outside knife 618 is actuated,under the control of outside knife cam 622 and its associated mechanism,previously described, to sever the withdrawn tape from the supplythereof. It will be noted that this cutting operation occurs when thereis little tension in the tape resulting in a straight cut rather than aslanting cut which occurs when the tape is severed when under tension.At this time the succeeding buckle from the feed station 122 isapproaching the threading station 60, said buckle being pushed intoposition by slide member. or pusher 102. During the foregoing movements,the tape guide roller 162 is retracted under the control of cam 206 andits associated mechanism, previously described, so that the severed end710 of the tape will fall downwardly past the previously projectedposition of tape guide roller 162, as best seen in 7 Figs. 24 and 33,the cut end projecting into bin 698 through the cut away portion 452 ofthe bed plate 18. Simultaneously with this movement of the tape thesecond threader 422 will begin to move downwardly, under the control ofcam 426, thereby permitting the abutting tape portions to falldownwardly and overlie the third eyelet 66 to position said tape withrespect to the buckle in preparation for the third threading operation,as seen in Fig. 33

The third threader 454 then moves downwardly, under the control of thirdthreader cam 468 and its associated mechanism, previously described, toperform the third The third threader 454 is provided with a narrow neckportion 712, as best seen in Fig. 22, to facilitate drawing the doublelayer tape through the narrow opening between confronting ribs 68 and 70of the buckle, as shown in Figs. 34 and 35. 'Upon completion of thisthird threading operation the third threader 454 moves upwardly underthe control of cam 468, as shown in Fig. 24, and the gripper jaws openunder the control of cam 334 for releasing the threaded" buckle.Simultaneously with this movement the various threaders and the looperreturn to their completely retracted position. Then the slide member orpusher 102 pushes a succeeding buckle 14 into the threading station 60,saidsucceeding buckle pushing the completed buckle and tape assemblytherefrom, as best seen in Figs. 25 and 36, wherein said buckle assemblyis discharged into bin 698, the tab L1 and the body portion L2 of thetape balancing the buckle assembly, on the discharge slide wire 696, asthe buckle assembly slides down the wire into the discharge bin. 7

As the succeeding buckle is moved into the threading station, the tapeguide roller 162 moves into its projected position under the control ofcam 206 and the gripper jaws start to move forward again to repeat theoperating cycle just described.

While we have shown and described the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it will be underas herein specifically illustrated ordescribed and that in stood that the invention may be embodied otherwisethan I,

the'illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details ofconstruction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the underlying ideas or principles of theinvention. Accordingly, we do not wish to be limited to the preciseconstruction shown or described herein, except as may be required by thescope of the appended claims.

Having thu desonibed our invention, What We claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holdingan apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means foradvancing a length of tape from :a supply thereof to a position at oneside of said buckle comprising a pair of gripper jaws mounted forreciprocating movement to withdraw a predetermined length of tape fromsaid supply, means for operating said gripper jaws for causing saidmovement, and means for adjusting the length of movement of said jaws tovary the length of said withdrawn tape comprising a first link memberprovided with a slot therein, a second link member connected to saidfirst link member at said slot, said connection comprising a pivot pinconnected to said second link member, said pivot pin being mounted insaid slot, and means for adjustably connecting said pivot pin to saidfirst link for adjusting the position of said pin in said slot to varythe relative movement of said link members with respect to each other soas to vary the length of movement of said reciprocating gripper jaws.

2. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holdingan apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means foradvancing a length of tape from a supply thereof to a position at oneside of said buckle comprising gripping means for clamping the end ofsaid tape, means for operating said gripping means in a horizontalreciprocating direction to withdraw said tape from a supply thereof,said operating means including means for adjusting the length ofmovement of said gripping means to vary the length of tape withdrawnfrom said supply, and means for adjustably positioning said grippingmeans with respect to said end of said tape.

3. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holdingan apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means foradvancing a length of tape from a supply thereof to a position at oneside of said buckle comprising gripping means for clamping the end ofsaid tape, means for operating said gripping means in a horizontalreciprocating direction to withdraw said tape from a supply thereof,said operating means including means for adjusting the length ofmovement of said gripping means to vary the length of tape withdrawnfrom said supply comprising a first link member provided with a slottherein, a second link member connected to said first link member atsaid slot, said connection comprising a pivot pin connected to saidsecond link member, said pivot pin being mounted in said slot, and meansfor adjustably connecting said pivot pin to said first link foradjusting the position of. said pin in said slot to vary the relativemovement of said link members with respect toeach other so as to varythe length of movement of said reciprocating gripper means.

4. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holdingan apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means foradvancing a length of tape from a supply thereof to a position at oneside of said buckle comprising gripping means for clamping the end ofsaid tape, means for operating said gripping means in a reciprocatingdirection to withdraw said tape from a supply thereof, and means foradjustably positioning said gripping means with respect to said end ofsaid tape comprising an adjusting screw connected at one end thereof tosaid gripping means, the other end of said adjusting screw beingconnected to said operating means

